Vacuum operated water lifting apparatus



July 26, 1932. J; A. sER ELL ET AL 1,868,673

VACUUM OPERATED WATER LIFTIHG APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 1 air a. d. walker y 1932- Y J. A. SERRELL ET AL 1,368,673

I VACUUM OPERATED WATER LIFTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

IIVIIIII Jo/m Sekrel/ James L. H72;

wfforney,

Patented July 26, 1932 Nrrno STATES) JOHN ASERLRELL, on PASSAGRILLE,FLORIDA, AND JAMES L. FITTS, or I ENSAUKE N TOW'NSI-IIP,MERCI-IANT'VILLE, CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY;-SAID FITTS AS-' srenoa roWARREN vvnnsrsn & COMPANY, A GORPORATEON or rnwanasnY I f VACUUMOPERATED WATER LIFTING APPARATUS Application filed February It isfrequently the case in vacuum systems of steam heating in which apartial vacuum is maintained in thereturn mains of" the system that thewater of condensation which passes into said mains is required to belifted from a lower to a higher level "for purposes of convenientdisposal or for other reasons, and it is the object of our invention toprovide a suitable means associated with and combined into the returnpiping of a steam heatingapparatus whereby such results may be obtainedwith the employment of a relatively low vacuum.

Heretofore, in vacuum systems of steam heating, it has been necessaryunder special conditions to cause water of condensation in the returnpipes to be lifted from onelevelto a higher level during itstraveltoward the discharge end of the system or for raising condensedwater collections in the returns from the lowest level to a higher levelWhere p p p 7 whole or in part, to the lower level under con the vacuumpump was locatedand from which level it was discharged either for returnto the boiler or for other final disposal, but in such practice it hasbeen customary to maintain a sufficient vacuum in the return pipes atthe higher level to provide an absolute pressure less than that whichwould be required to balance or exceed the weight of the vertical columnof condensed water: thus required in passing from the lower to the upperlevel in its movement for elimina-,

tion or discharge from the heating system. While,

the water and assists it to some extent in passing through lifts whenthey occur-1n such parts of the system where the air is necessarily inquantity sufiiclent for the purlations are inadequate in quantityv tomaterially asslstin raising the water to the pump especially where thewater column or lift would equal the height'of thebasement or lowerfloor below the level of the. vacuum pump or discharge from the returnpipes of,

the system and it is, more particularly, to en in such systems, there issome airv passing into the returns along with the wa ter ofcondensat-lonand is thus mixed with 5, 1925, Serial No. aeee.

level and consequently there willbe too small a quantity of air at thelowerlevel to sulficiently subdivide the water to-lightenthecomposite'column of the mixture to enable it to respond'in its upwardvflow to the normal vacuum which the system would require; I This wouldbe more apparent when the water of condensation from the-'upperportionof the system is permitted to find its way,-in

difficulties thus pointed out and insure eflicient heating by radiatorsbelow the vacuum' pump" or discharge level equal-to that which may behad from the radiators at or above the said pump level. 5

Our invention comprehends a controlled supply of air or gas into thelower partoftheliftreturnpipe on the upper end of whicha partialvacuumis maintained by a'suitable pump or other means, and so'op eratingthat the vacuum will cause anin v flow of air at or near-the base of thewater column and, intermingling with the water, cause its subdivisionand lessening in volume with the result that the buoyancy. of the airsupplemented with the exhausting action of the vacuum pump will, with arelatively" small vacuum or absolute pressure, sustain and upwardly movea relatively high column of water and air mixture. Thisis' insured byreason of the fact thatthe static head which wouldbe-elfective in anysuch given column, ifwater alone were'emplo'yed,

is greatly lessened in weight by the introduction of the air; and thisair admixture is made possible by the presence of the vacuum acting uponthe upper end of the column or lift.

Our object is, furthermore, to so regulate the air inflow that it shallbe only such, as with a predetermined extent of vacuum, the necessaryheight of lift can be insured, it being understood that the smaller theair admission possible with the vacuum required the more efficient theresults.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will bemore fully understood from the description hereinafter, the inventionconsists in the novel construction of vacuum operated water liftingapparatus, as hereinafter more fully described and defined in theclaims.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical section through aportion of a building equipped with steam heating apparatus embodyingour invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the more particular partsconstituting our improvements which are embodied in the general heatingsystem; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the nozzle for supplyingair into the water column of the lift forming a part of the structure ofFig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the controlled inlet forthe air which is supplied to the nozzle of Fig. 8; Fig. 5 is a verticalsection of a trap-like foot fitting for the lift and which is alsoadapted as the top fitting thereof; Figs. (3 and 7 are vertical sectionsof modified forms of air and water mixers which may be substituted forthe mixing nozzle structure shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 8 is a verticalsection of an automatic means for controlling the air supply to the airmixing nozzle.

Fig. 1 is a typical illustration of avacuum steam heating system inwhich V is a mechanical pumping device for producing a partial vacuumwithin the system. 2 are radiators at or above the lowest of the returnmains 6 and 3 is a radiator which is located at a level lower than thepump. The steam supply from a generating source, such as a boiler B, (orthe steam exhausted from an engine or power unit), passes into theradiators through supply pipes i. In the radiators, the steam parts withits latent heat, forming water of condensation which, passing from theradiators through traps 5, enters the return pipes or mains 6, andthence passes to the vacuum pump which discharges to an open air andwater separating tank of other receptacle (not shown) provided for thepurpose of receiving the water of condensation, or said water may bedischarged as waste.

Referring more particularly to our improved lift 7 and its connection inrespect to the radiator 3 arranged at a lower level than the vacuum pumpV, it will be seen that said radiator is located approximately at alower level constituting the basement beneath the floor on which thevacuum pump is located, and the lift 7 is arranged as a connectionbetween the return main Go from the radiator 3 at this lower level andthe return pipe 6 from the radiator 2 leading to the vacuum pump on thefioor next above the basement, thereby requiring that the water ofcondensation shall be lifted approximately ten feet, more or less, underthe effective vacuum of the pump and the buoyant action ot the air wiich is admitted into the lift pipe to lighten the water column therein.

Referring more specifically to Fig. 2, i will be seen that the waterfrom the lowe return pipe 660 is conveyed upward through the verticallift pipes 10 and 10a to the return pipe 6 and a higher level, namely,that at which the vacuum pump is located. These pipes 10 and 10a providea column through which the wa er is to be conveyed and may amount to tenfeet more or less, correspondin g to the height of the basement ordistance between the levels of the return pipes 6 and 6a. At the bottomof the water column and connectin with the pipe 10a is a foot fitting 8,shown more fully in Fig. 5, and from which it will be seen tha the waterof condensation from the return pipe 666 is deiivered into the bottom ofthe vertical pass' 1 8b which connnunicates directly with the octtom ofthe pipe 10a and, at the same time, the shape of this fittingconstitutes a well for the collection of the water immediately below thelift pipe and a trap through which the air from the return pipe 6a maybe drawn under the influence of the vacuum, and thereb be subsequentlyguided upwardly together with the water flowing through the lift. Thisfoot fitting 8 may be provided with a clean.- ing aperture at the bottomof the well portion and normally sealed with a plug 80. By reason of theshape of this foot fitting. the water of condensation which may find itsway into the return pipe 6a may be almost entirel moved through thelift. since any material collections of water will maintain the bot--tom of the passage 8?) at the base of the lift in a sealed condition,and said water will be moved upward under the influence of the liftmechanism so long as the bottom of the lift passage is sealed withwater.

At the upper part of the lift pipe 10 arranged, at 8a, a duplicate ofthe fitting 8 only that it is inverted with the result that. it providesa. delivery outlet into the return pipe 6 which is somewhat lower thanthe top of the water column as constituted by the said fi ting, wherebythe water which reach es the top is free to pass therefrom into thereturn pp" 6 toward the pump under the influence of the vacuum and, atthe same time, prevent any backflow from said return pipe 6 into thelift pipe by reason of drainage from theupper return pipe 6 at timeswhen the hit was not in actual operation owing to lack of ter ofcondensation in the lower return pipe, aswhen the radiator 3 was shutofi.

The vertical pipes 10 and 10a are connected by a body casting 11 whichis conveniently arranged close to the lower fitting 8 by making the pipe10a short as compared tothe plpe 10. The body 11 is hollow and of thegeneral construction shown in Fig. 3.

This body 11 has a lateral opening into which is screwed an air supplypipe 141, thesame being fitted at its inner end with an upwardlydirected air nozzle 12, said nozzle being preferably tapered andextending somewhat into the lower end of the pipe 10 and providingbetween it and the interior wall of said pipean annularwater passage 13.The lower part 1 of the pipe 10 is preferably reamed out on a taper tosubstantially correspond to the taper of the nozzle, and whereby thewater rising through the body may pass freely upward about the end ofthe air nozzle 12. The

' pipe 14a connects with the bottom of a vertical air pipe 14 which, atits upper end, provides an intake for the air which is to be deliveredfrom the nozzle 12. This intake should preferably control the inflow ofair to provide the necessary buoyancy to the water which is to beelevated through the lift or stand pipe 10 under a given vacuum in thesystem. The preferred construction of this intake for the air isillustrated in Fig.

. 4, and comprises a chamber 15 attached-to the upper end of the airpipe 14, in which a transversely arranged plate 16 is clamped, saidplate having an orifice 17 through which air passes into the verticalair pipe with the I desired freedom necessary. The size or area of thisorifice 17 and that of the mixing nozzle 12, as well as the size or areaof the vertical lift pipe 10- above the said nozzle, are suitablyproportioned to obtain the raising l of the largest quantity of waterwith a minimum quantity of air when operating at a suitable vacuum inthe return pipe 6. It is highly desirable to keep the volume of airwhich enters the orifice 17 at a minimum consistent with the eifectivelifting of the water so as to prevent the vacuum pump being required tohandle any larger volume of air than is absolutely necessary toaccomplish the work required in the lift while, at

' the same time, maintaining the desired vacuum in the remaining partsof the heating system.

The plate 16 is clamped in thechamber 15 by a ring cap 20 whichisscrewed upon the body and which, in'addition to clamping the plate 16in position, also clamps a perforated plate or metal screen 19 and adiskof porous material 18, such as felt, in'position to permit the entranceof the air to the orifice in the plate but preventing the passage ofdirt-or. dust which might clog the I orifice 17. A spacing ring 19a isinserted between the metal screen 19 which supports the porous material18 and the rim of the plate 16, soas to provide an airspace between-thetwo which will furnish a greater so that, in practice, the size of theorifice- 17 required may be provided by substituting a plate ordiaphragm 16 having a larger or smaller orifice, as may be necessary. Itwill be understood, however, that this orifice may be adjustable and asa means for accomplish? fied construction in Fig. 8 which not onlypermits of the adjustment of the sizeof the orifice for the inflow ofair, but also provides capacity for an automatic adjustment oftheorifice in accordance with the requirements of the system in operation.

Referring to Fig. 8,'-the chamber 15 is connected with the top of theair pipe 14 and is fitted with a screen or filter 19 clamped in mg suchadjustment, we have shown amodiposition by the ring cap 20. This ringcap also. clamps the diaphragm 16a in position corresponding to theplate 16 in Fig. 4. The

diaphragm plate 16a is provided with a centralaperture 17a and enteringsaid aperture is a conically pointed end of a screw 21, which extendsthrough the wall of the chamber 15 so as to be adjustable from theoutside and maybe locked inadjusted position by a lock nut 22. It willbe seen, furthermore, that the diaphragm 16a is preferably made in theform of a bellows 16?), so as to be expansible with capacity formovement of the plate 16a and its orifice 17a towardor from the conicalend of the screw 21. Primarily, it will be understood that theadjustment of the screw 21 in the orifice 17 a will regulate or controlthe size of the air passage and in this manner will give normal capacityof adjustment for any fixed conditions as to lift and vacuum. However,the device, as

shown, has capacity for automatic adj ustment under influence of thevariable conditions which may arise in the operation of the system.

The physical law governing the flow of a fluid through an orifice is,that the flow by weight of the fluid through such orifice is.

proportional to the square root of the pressure difference between thetwo sides of the orifice and it, therefore,;follows that should thevacuum increase in the system under consideration, the absolute pressureon the underside of the diaphragm will decreaserelatively to theatmospheric pressure above said diaphragm, and consequently there wouldbe an increased passage of air through the orifice 17a whereas a lesserquantity of air would satisfy the requirements of the lift; and undersuch increase of vacuum, the dia phragm 16a would be drawn slightlydow1iward toward the conical end of the screw and thereby automaticallyreduce inflow of air whereby its volume may be proportional to the dutyrequired of it. In other words, the higher the vacuum exerted on theupper part of the lift pipe 10, the less the quantity of air which isrequired to assist in the lifting of the water, and vice versa. Anyother automatic means for controlling the quantity of air admitted tothe lift pipe to compensate for variations in the vacuum av ilable orfor variations in the extent of vacuum may be employed in lieu of thatshown by way of example.

While we have shown in Fig. 3, a suitable means for supplying the air atatmospheric pressure into the lift pipe 10, we do not limit ourselves tothe precise construction therein disclosed, as similar results may besecured by the modifications illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In Fig. 6, wehave shown the nozzle 12a as comprising a vertical tube open at thebottom and having spraying orifices at the top, the upper end of saidtube being arranged adjacent to the bottom of the lift pipe 10, so as toleave an annular passage 13 between it and the spraying nozzle. In thisconstruc tion, the air which enters by the pipe l la will pass upwardlyand out through the orifices in the nozzle 12a, and thus be commingledwith the water rising through the annular passage 13. Air may also passthrough the bottom of the tubular part 12a into the chamber 11 and bethus mingled with he water "ising from the tubular section 1060 and saidmixture of water and air commingled with the mixture produced adjacentthe up per part of the nozzle 1%, the associated mixtures thereafterbeing delivered into the lift pipe 10. We do not restrict ourselves tothe length to which the tubular part 12a extends upwardly in respect tothe pipe 10 or downwardly in respect to the pipe 10a, as the length ofsaid tubular nozzle partmay be varied, as desired.

In respect to the construction shown in Fig. 7, the general constructionis such that the body part 11 provides a chamber into which the air fromthe supply pipe 140 is received and, furthermore, the water pipe 10a isextended upwardly through the air chamber to a point adjacent to thebottom of the lift pipe 10; and the pipe portions so constructed toprovide a nozzle 12?) in alinemcnt with the bottom of the pipe 10 so"hat the water in flowing upward from the pipe 10a into the pipe 10 willcreate a suction to some extent through the annular conical aperture1.3a surrounding the nozzle portion 12b and opening into the lowerportion of the pipe 10, to assist in the intermingling of the air fromthe air chamber in the body 11 and the water which is passing upwardthrough the nozzle 12?). Other forms of air and water mixers may beemployed in lieu of any of those herein illustrated, so long as theyprovide a proper commingling of air with the water at the lower part ofthe lift pipe 10 for the purposes hereinbefore set out.

It will be noted that in Fig. 2 the air supply pipe 14 extends somewhatabove the level of the return pipe 6 so that it reaches a point somewhathigher than the top of the lift pipe 10 and the reason for thisconstruction is that should from any cause the vacuum pump cease tooperate and the water in the return 6 accumulate and flow down into thelift pipe 10, then and in that event, the water may rise in the pipe 14to the level of the return pipe (3 without overflowing from the orifice17 at the upper part of said pipe let. We, however, do not restrictourselves to the height of the said pipe 14, as during normal operationof the apparatus, the inflow of air through the pipe 14: will preventthe outlet of water therethrough.

In the operation of a vacuum steam heating system having one or morelifts of the character here set out, the action is as fol lens: Thevacuum pump V is started and a partial va uum is produced in the returnpart of the system in the manner customary with heating systems of thischaracter; and, at the same time, air in measured quantities flowsthrough the orifice 17 of the air intake devices for the lift 7. Steambeing admitted to the steam supply pipes l from the boiler or othersource B, enters the radiators 2 and 3 under manual control; and beingcondensed therein, the water of condensation flows through the automatictraps 5 into the return mains 6 and 6a, and in the case of the latter,the water passes into the foot fitting 8 where it accumulates asindicated in Fig. 5. The pressure differential between the bottom andtop of the lift pipes 10 and 10a cause the water from the well in thelower fitting 8 to rise above the level of the air nozzle 12 of the airmixer 9, where the air entering lift pipe 10 from nozzle 12 mixes withthe water and thereby reduces the density of the column constituting thefluid content within the said lift pipe and causing said column tocontinue to flow upwardly at an increasing velocity. When the mixture ofwater and air reaches the upper fitting So, it passes over the wier 86therein and into the horizontal return main 6 leading to the vacuum pumpV. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the air A, being lighter than thewater WV, tends to buoy it up and carry it upward, the w ter beinglargely lifted in more or less separated masses due to the presenceofthe air volumes intermingled therewith. r r

As the quantity of water of condensation varies during the early portionof the .heating up period, when steam is being first admitted into thecold radiators with a maxi mum production of water of condensation, itis as this time most important to admit the air through the orifice 17into the pipe .1 3 leading to the air nozzle 12, to enable the'elevationof the large volumes of water of condensation which finds its way. tothe lowest return pipes of the system. Efliciency of the apparatus isrequired mor I particularly at. this period of the operation of theheating system when the duty put uponthe lift is exceptionally heavy andthe capacity of the vacuum pump is taxed to a high degree in aandlingthe water as well as the normally liberatedair from the condensed steam.

The degree of vacuum necessary to lift Water, if in a solid column, isapproximately equivalent to a pressure of one inch of mercury to eachfoot of vertical height of thecolumn, so that for a vertical liftof sayten feet, an absolute pressure equivalent to ten inches of mercury isrequired as a vacuum below atmospheric pressure, and with some excess toinsure a rapid flow of the water in a system such as a vacuum steamheating system. j Y

lVith our improveddevices herein set out, the actual vacuum required tostart the lift of the water throiwh a height of ten feet may be reducedto approximately one-half of that which would be required if the waterwas in a solid column and, therefore, after starting the column throughthe employment of air, the vacuum required may be reduced toapproximately two and one-half inches of mercury or about one quarter ofthe vacuum which would have been required to lift the water if the samehad been in a solid column. Under such conditions, a slightly greatervacuum at the pump is normally effective throughout the returns of thesystem other than that particular portion in which the lift is located.The present invention operates as an eflicient means for elevating waterin the returns of a steam heating system by means of air at atmosphericpressure entering the return mains in controlled volumes when a pump orother means is used for exhausting the air from the returns of saidsystem.

While we have described our invention in connection with a relativelylarge lift equiva-- lent to the height of the basement, we do notrestrict ourselves to a special use ofsuch a lift, either as to size oras to its use in a vac uum system of steam heating, as the principlesinvolved in our improved lift may also be put into operation when thelift,'such as shown in Fig. 2, receives a water supply to the pipe 6afronany source and a partial various levels, as

what we claim as new in which vacuumfis maintained in the upper' pipefi, and wherein the air admitted to the lift pipe is at atmosphericpressure. It will be further understood that in a steam heating systemor any other purpose, a'lift of this character may be arranged in. thesystem at may be required, for ex-. ample, as indicated at 7. and inFig. 1, though in the particular illustration, the lift 7a relativelysmall;

i t hile we applicable to a steam claims of the present to-a vacuumoperated water lifting apparatus without regard to its particular use,and we, therefore, do not make any claim in this application limited toa steam heating system, as the'same will form subject matter of aseparate application.

l fe and method in that particularity which We deem to be the bestexposition of our invention and that which we prefer in'commercialpractice, but we do not restrict or confine ourselves to the minor orsecondary details, as such are. susceptible of modification: and

maybe, resorted to as matters of'mechanical skill and without of theinvention.

Having now described our invention, and desire to secure by a departurefrom the spirit Letters Patent is:

have described our improved means a a have described our invention asheating system, the g application are directed 1. Means for'liftingwater from one: level to a higher level, comprising at the low level forsupplying tom of the lift pipe, a pipe at in communication with liftpipeand in which a partial vacuum is maintained, a vacuum creating meansfor maintaining a partial vacuum in the pipe at the higherlevel andwithdrawing water so liftedtogether with the associated air fromsaid'pipe at the higher level, and means for introducing air part of thelift pipe, the said means foradmitting air to the lower part of thewater lift pipe being provided with an extending to approximately thethe water lift'pipe and having means at its upper end toadmit air inrestricted quantities. cans for lifting water v to a-higher level, whichcomprises a lift pipe, a pipe at the higher level in communication withthe upper; part of the lift pipe and a partial vacuum is maintained, avacuum creating means "for maintaininga partial vacuum in the pipe'atthe higher level and withdrawing air and water there water to the hotthe higher level the upper partof the upper part of a lift pipe, a pipeinto thewater in the lower a upright air pipe 11 from one level'from,'-means forintroducing air into the 'wa ter in thelower part'ofthe lift-pipe,said means having a communication with the atmosphere, anda trap-like ing a well arranged at the bottom of the water lift pipeinto whichfthe water is trapped for its supply to the said lift pipestructure provide supplying wasaid trap like and a horizontal returnpipe ter of condensation into the structure.

3. The invention according to claim 1, wherein the means for introducingair into the water comprises an annular water passage into which an airnozzle extends forming an ejector for producing a suction upon the airby the upwardly rising water.

4. hiieans for lifting wate from one level to a higher level, whichcomprises lift pipe, a pipe at the lower level for supplying water tothe bottom of the lift pipe, a pipe at the higher level in communicationwith the upper part of the lift pipe and in which a partial vacuum ismaintained, a vacuum creating means for maintaining a partial vacuum inthe pipe at the higher level and withdrawing air and water the. meansfor introducing air f ito the water in the lower part of the lift pipe,said means having a communication with the atmosphere, and automaticallyadjustable means governed by the pressure conditions within the meansfor introducing the air into the water in the lower part of the liftpipe for controlling the quantity of air admitted.

5. Means for lifting water from one level to another, which comprises alift pipe, a pipe at a low level for supplying water to the bottom ofthe lift pipe, a pipe at a higher level in communication with the upperpart of the lift pipe and in which a partial vacuum is maintained, avacuum creating means for maintaining a partial vacuum in the pipe atthe higher level, nleans for introducing air into the water in the lowerpart of the lift pipe, and a communication between the air introducingmeans and the atmosphere, comprisin a pipe extending to approximatelythe level of the upper end of the lift pipe and having thereat anaperture proportioned to supply air in measured quantities under theinfluence of the partial vacuum eXist-ingin the pipe at the higher levelwith which the upper end of the lift pipe communicates.

6. The invention accordinp to claim 1, wherein further, the means forcontrolling the admission of air to the upper end of the upright airpipe includes a thin apertured disk and detachable means for clampingthe dish upon the upper end of the upright air pipe whereby disks withdillerent sized apertures may be substituted as required according tothe extent of the partial vacuum and the height of the column of waterin the lift ipe.

7. Means for lifting water from one level to another, which comprises alift pipe, a pipe at a low level for supplying water to the bottom ofthe lift pipe, a pipe at a higher level in communication with the upperpart of the lift pipe and in which. a partial vac uum is maintained, avacuum creating means for maintaining a partial vacuum in the pipe atthe higher level, means for introducing air into the water in the lowerpart of the lift pipe, and a communication between the air introducingmeans and the atmosphere comprising, a pipe extending to approximatelythe level of the upper end of the lift pipe and having thereat anaperture proportioned to supply air in measured quantities under theinfluence of the partial vacuum existin the pipe at the higher levelwith which the upper end of the lift pipe communicates, and whereinfurther, automatic means are provided for adjusting the admission of airto be mi xed with the water in the lift pipe. in testimony of whichinvention I here ante set my hand.

JOHN A. SERHELL. In test mony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

J AMES L. FITTS.

